Dr Andrea Diambra is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at University of Bristol. His research interests span across a wide range of geotechnical problems, with particular focus on two main areas: 1) new geotechnical solutions for offshore energy systems and 2) development of novel ground improvements techniques. His research uses an approach across the length scales involving a range of techniques from experimental element testing, constitutive modelling, numerical analyses and full-scale testing.

 

Recent and current research projects include:

 

1)      Offshore geotechnics

-          Development of new macro-element models for plate anchoring systems;

-          Full-scale axial and lateral testing of driven steel piles in chalk;

-          Polypropylene pipe – seabed interaction;

-          Review of available methods for spudcan penetration assessment;

-          Development of constitutive modelling for cyclic behaviour of granular soils;

-          Evolution of stiffness of granular soils under very large number of  multiaxial loading cycles using the Hollow Cylinder Torsional apparatus;

-          Stress and time dependent behaviour of remoulded chalk.

 

2)      Ground improvements

-          Experimental and numerical studies of fibre reinforced soils;

-          Experimental and numerical modelling of artificially cemented soils;

-          Extension of modelling techniques for fibre reinforced soils to root-soil systems;

 

Dr Diambra has extensive teaching experience at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. He is willing to supervise new postgraduate students to work in the above mentioned and/or related topics.

 

Recent awards:

• Best paper in Géotechnique Letters Volume 5, Q2 (February) 2015: Chow S.H., O’Loughlin C.D., Corti R., Gaudin C. & Diambra A.  2015 “Drained cyclic capacity of plate anchors in dense sand: Experimental and Theoretical Observations”, Géotechnique Letters, 5, 80-85. DOI: 10.1680/geolett.15.00019
• Best paper in Géotechnique LettersVolume 4, Q3 (June-September) 2014:  Diambra A., Ciavaglia F., Harman A., Dimelow C., Carey J., Nash D.  2014 “Performance of cyclic cone penetration tests in chalk”, Géotechnique Letters, 4, 230-237. DOI: 10.1680/geolett.14.00050. 
• EPSRC research grant 2012: "Anisotropy of fibre reinforced sands under generalised loading conditions"(http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/J010022/1).